Review by Elle Webster

IT was a rousing evening at the Colston Hall in Bristol as the RAF in Concert Tour performed their musical commemoration to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The evening began with the national anthem, followed by a rousing tribute to the Wireless, a focus of life during World War Two that, as one audience member commented, reminded her of her childhood.

The first half of the evening focused on the events leading up to and during the Battle of Britain starting with the announcement of war on September 3 1939 with events illustrated by songs including Those in Peril on the Sea, the Battle of Britain March and Up Where We Belong, the latter used to highlight the pain of loved ones parting.

Throughout the evening, the audience was encouraged to participate, particularly during a performance of Hornpipe, a traditional dance piece, which saw two of the band violinist’s move into the audience.

Conductor Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs enthusiastically encouraged the audience to stamp their feet and clap their hands creating a huge sound that reverberated around the hall.

The band was joined on stage by singer Emer McParland who was clearly enjoying the evening and during her performance of The Other Side of the Rainbow, a medley of Judy Garland songs, she encouraged the conductor to join her for dance, prompting compere Gaby Roslin to comment that he should be on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The band played a wide range of music throughout the evening including music from the 1940s to modern commemorative compositions, classical pieces and songs from the screen.

The Squadronaires opened the second half of the programme with Gonna Fly Now, best known as the theme from Rocky and Can’t Buy Me Love, a Beatles classic that had the audience tapping along.

Senior Aircraftman Daniel Floyd performed an impressive synchronization with another of the percussionist’s on the xylophone, while blindfolded.

The pair both silenced the audience with their ability to perform Czardas with its seven tempo changes, and moved them to roaring laughter with their comedic timing.

The RAF Concert Tour is run is support of the RAF Charitable Trust which aims to promote the RAF, support its people and encourage air-mindedness in younger generations.

Each year the Trust runs a competition to find a soloist for the upcoming tour, providing an opportunity for the newer members of RAF Music Services to showcase their abilities.

This year’s winner Senior Aircraftsman Lewis Musson demonstrated his skills on the euphonium, performing Andante and Greek Dance, each piece highlighting the different sounds of the instrument and ending with a plate in smashing form with a plate being dropped in the Greek tradition.

The programme ended with the audience on their feet singing one of the most famous songs of World War Two, Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’, before the band performed an encore of the Royal Air Force March Past to rapturous applause.

The evening was a moving commemoration of both the contributions of the Few but also those of the many, the hard-working men and women who supported the pilots on the ground during the Battle of Britain, as well as providing an insight into the contributions of today’s RAF to securing out skies.

For more information about the RAF Charitable Trust and the RAF Concert Tour visit www.airtattoo.com